Latch mechanism for cabinet doors



April 12, 1932. .1. G. JACKSON LATCH MECHANISM FOR CABINET DOORS FiledJan. 13. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l .l w h INVENTOR S1752? 6. Jim/(saxATTORNEYS April 12, 1932.

J G. JACKSON 1,853,428

LATCH MECHANISM FOR CABINET DOORS Filed Jan. 13, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EINVENTOR k I 1/5/17? 6" U'ac/(saz BY i 7 I #\T'1'RNE6 April 12, 1932. J.5. JACKSON 1,353,428,

LATCH MECHANISM FOR CABINET DOORS INVENTOR ATTORNEYIS Patented Apr. 12,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN G. JACKSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,.ASSIGNOR TO SQUARE D COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFMICHIGAN LATCH MECHANISM FOR CABINET DOORS Application filed January 13,1930. Serial No. 420,552.

' mechanism for cabinet doors and consists of certain novel features ofconstruction,-

combinations and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter morefully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of acabinet showing parts broken away and having latch mechanism embodyingmy invention;'

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through the cabinet;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the cabinet;

Figure 4. is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view through thecabinet, showing different-portions of the latch bolts and operatinghandles;

Figure is a sectionalview taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the switch blade blocksand showing the latch receiving grooves therein.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is a cabinet corresponding to theswitching fuse cabinet set forth in a. companion application Serial No.420,553, and having a series of compartments 2 arranged in pairs, anddoors 3 hingedly connected to the outer walls 1 of the compartments andadapted to seat upon the insulator blocks 5 upon opposite sides of theintermediate centrally disposed aligned strips 6 and 7 respectively ofthe cabinet. 8 are latch bolts, 9 are striker plates for the bolts, 10are operating handles for the bolts and doors, 11 are supportingbrackets for the handles and bolts, 12 are latches for holding thehandles 10 in planes substantially at right angles and substantiallyparallel respectively to the doors, 13 is a reciprocating locking barfor the latch bolts, 14 is a rotary cam for actuating the bar, and 15 isa key-controlled operating handle for the cam. As shown, the latch bolts8 are arranged in pairs, one pair to each door, and are engageable withthe striker plates}? to retain the. doors in closed ato position.Preferably these bolts 8 have substantially L-shaped shanks 16 pivotedupon parallel side portions 17 of the brackets, and the bases 18 of thelatter are rigidly secured to the inner sides of the doors 3. Thestriker plates 9 are secured to the lower faces of the strips 6 and 7 atspaced points thereof, and have rounded longitudinal edges 19 and 20respectively. The operating handles 10 are sleeved upon bolts 21terminally secured to the parallel shanks 16 of the latch bolts at theouter ends thereof. The latches 12 comprise narrow strips of metalpivoted intermediate their ends to the bolt shanks 16 and have lateralprojections 22 at their inner ends alternately engageable with openings24 and slots 25 in the side portions 17 of the brackets. Preferably aleaf spring 26 between the strips 12 and shanks 16 yieldably retain theprojections 22 in operative latching position. Thus with thisconstruction the handles 10 are used to manipulate the doors and toactuate the latch bolts and will be held by the latches 12 in eitherright angle or parallel planes relative to the doors. As a result thelatch bolts 8 will be held in either latched or unlatched position bythe latches 12. Moreover, the con struction and arrangement of latchbolts 8 and striker plates 9 are such that the engagement of the latchbolts with the striker plates will complete the closing of the doors ifthat has not already been accomplished by the mere pushing of the doorsto closed position. In fact, the handle 10 and latch bolt 8 is such thatthe door 3 cannot be closed and an electrical contact between the blades30 and jaws 31 cannot therefore be efl'ected if the handle shanks 16 areimproperly positioned relative to the door when the latter is pushedtoward closed position. For example, if the handle shanks 16 aresubstantially parallel to the door when thelatter is closed, the latchbolts 8 will abut the outer face of the strip 7 As a result the doorcannot then be closed and no electi lcal contact between the blades 30and jaws 31 can be made. However, when the handle shanks 16 are atsubstantially right angles to the door the latch bolts 8 maybe moved bythe handle into engagement with the striker plate 9 to cause the doorto" be cammed to fully closed position. In other No. 420,553, havetransversely extendintg words, the engagement of the latch bolts 8 withthe cam-like striker plates 9 may be used to cause the door to be movedto fully closed position so" that the blades will be forced between thejaws to establish a positive and eflicient electrical connectiontherebetween. It will also be apparent that the door 3 when partiallyclosed may be cammed to fully closed position by the engagement of thelatch bolts 8 with the striker plates 9 in the manner just described.Moreover, upon the final closing of the doors in this manner thepressure between the switch blades and jaws will be increased as thedoors are cammed to fully closed position; Hence a very-positive contactis effected between the parts.- As pointed out, this mechanism isprimarily intended for use with switching fuse cabinets such as that setforth in companion case Serial No. 420,553, and as the switch blades 30are carried by the doors 3, the closing of the doors by the engagementofthe latch bolts 8 with the striker plates 9 will also insure properengagement of the blades 30 with the switch jaws 31 within the cabinet.Moreover, such constructions in combination with the latches 12 areexplosion proof and the handles .10 will be held against collapsing whenin planes at right angles to the doors.

The locking bar 13 is slidable longitudinally in aligned slots 40, 41and 42 respectively in brackets 43, 44 and 45 projecting inwardly fromthe strips 6 and 7, and serves as a common locking element for all ofthe latch bolts 8 on the respective doors. Preferably the bar 13 travelsin transversely extending slots 46 in the latch bolts 8 and is providedat spaced points with slots 47 permitting disengagement of the latchbolts 8 therefrom. The cam 14 is rigid with the inner end of a stubshaft 49 ournaled in the strip 6 and is rotatable-in a recess 50 in thebar 13 into engagement with opposite walls 51 and 52 respectivelythereof to actuate the bar so that the slots 47 therein will bealternately in and out of alignment with the'lateh bolts 8. A coilspring 53 is sleeved upon the shaft 49 between the strip 6 andcam 14 andserves to take up lost motion and prevent rattling. The handle 15 isrigid with the shaft 49 at the outer end thereof and contains a suitablekey-actuated lock 54. Preferably the construction is such that thehandle 15, shaft 49, cam 14 and bar 13 may be locked when the slots 47in the bar 1. In combination, a latch bolt having a shank, an operatinghandle carried by the shankand adapted to be positioned in a planeparallel or in a plane at substantially right angles to a door, andmeans carried by the shank and operable to hold the handle in either ofthe two positions aforesaid.

2. In combination, apivotal latch bolt having a shank, a latch carriedby the shank, and

a supporting bracket for the shank having an opening and a recess foralternately receiving the latch aforesaid- 3. In combination,- alatchbolt having a shank, a support therefor, and means associated withthe shank and support for yieldably retaining the bolt in differentpredetermined positions relative to the support.

4. In combination, a bracket a latch bolt having a shank pivoted on thebracket, anoperating handle carried by the shank, and means associatedwith the shank and bracket for holding the handle against accidentalmovement when in a predetermined position.

5. In combination, a bracket, a latch bolt having a shank pivoted on thebracket, an operating handle carried by the shank and adapted to be'in aplane parallel with the bracket and in a planeat substantially rightangles to the bracket, and means associated with the shank foralternately retaining the handle in the positions aforesaid including aspring actuated member carried by the shank and engageable with thebracket.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN G. JACKSON.

are out of alignment with the latch bolts 8 so that the latter and thedoors 3 will be held in closed position. Hence with this constructionseveral doors are under lock and key and may be locked simultaneously.It will also be noted that the adjustable switch blade blocks 60,illustrated herein and'specifically described in companion case, Sei'ials ots 61 in two longitudinal ed es thereof or al- 'ternately receivingthe late bolts 8 when the

